Tubercular Mammitis 97 1 



the tuberculosis of the udder, and whatever constitutional symp- 

 toms may appear are referable to the ravages of the disease in 

 other parts of the body. The mammitis is chronic in character, 

 and increases very gradually in volume and hardness. After a 

 time the affected quarter becomes very hard and extremely large. 

 Franck records cases in which the udder has attained a weight 

 of 30 to 40 pounds. 



The secretions of the gland depart from the normal very gradu- 

 ally, and may retain the general appearance of milk for weeks 

 or months, and then slowly become watery, filled with clots and 

 perhaps becomes yellowish in color. The lymph glands on the 

 proximal side of the mammae, the supra-mammary lymph glands, 

 become swollen to such a degree that they may be felt or seen. 



The diagnosis of tubercular mammitis is to be made in con- 

 junction with the general symptoms. The definite diagnosis 

 must depend largely upon the tuberculin test. According to 

 Bang the disease is characterized by the fact that, for some time 

 after the advent of the malady, the secretions of the gland remain 

 apparently normal in appearance and quantity, although in some 

 cases the disease may be acute from the beginning, and conse- 

 quently the amount of milk very much decreased. In compari- 

 son with other forms of mammitis, it is important to note that 

 as a rule there is little or no pain in the tubercular portion of the 

 udder. 



Tuberculosis of the udder occurs chiefly in very severe cases 

 of tuberculosis. The course is comparatively rapid, and the animal 

 may succumb to general tuberculosis in a few months. 



Upon post-mortem examination the swelling of the affected 

 glands is usually diffuse, though in some cases it is nodular. 

 Upon section, the swollen parts of the udder are found very firm, 

 and the cut surface is even, while the affected portions are 

 prominently separated from the sound parts by a clear line of de- 

 marcation. There occur, throughout the diseased portion of the 

 gland, more or less numerous yellow spots or tubercules, while 

 the larger milk canals may contain yellowish caseous masses 

 and the walls of the milk cisterns may show small tubercular 

 elevations. 



In cases of long standing, the tubercular degeneration of the 

 gland becomes more evident, and the tubercles may become 



